Reno, Nevada – The Hawk Fire, which ignited Saturday in the foothills north of the city, has grown to more than 23 square miles (60 square kilometers) and remains uncontained. With winds shifting and the blaze threatening newly built neighborhoods on the edge of Nevada’s second‑largest city, officials ordered the evacuation of more than 90,000 residents on Sunday.
Evacuations and school closures
County officials directed residents to leave their homes immediately, and schools across Washoe County were closed Monday to keep roadways clear for emergency crews. Families were given little time to gather belongings before the fire expanded rapidly.
“Honestly, I thought it was like in a movie,” said Ruby Delatorre, who returned from a concert only to discover her home was in the evacuation zone. She later walked back to retrieve a few essential items, saying, “I literally want to cry and go back for all my stuff. I just got what I thought I needed.”
Impact and injuries
At least six people have been injured – three first responders and three civilians – as firefighters worked to contain hotspots and prevent the fire from crossing a major highway that runs through the area. Videos posted on social media show smoldering ruins of homes and vehicles, with a lone basketball hoop still standing amid the ash.
Authorities confirmed the fire is human‑caused, though they have not disclosed whether it was set intentionally or resulted from an accident.
Historical context and broader conditions
The Hawk Fire marks the third large wildfire in the rugged terrain north of Reno within the past two weeks, all attributed to human activity. Extremely dry conditions across the American West have fueled a surge in wildfires this summer. In early August, fires in eastern Washington forced the evacuation of 60,000 people in the Spokane area.
Nationwide, more than 50,000 wildfires have been reported this season, the highest count in a decade for the same time period, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Response and next steps
Firefighters continue to work on extinguishing remaining hotspots while protecting a main highway that could provide a pathway for the flames into densely populated neighborhoods. Residents are urged to stay informed through local emergency alerts and to follow evacuation orders without delay.
“You don’t know if the winds are going to shift and it’s going to get worse,” said evacuee Teresa Lenshyn, describing the stress and uncertainty faced by those forced to leave their homes.
Local authorities remain vigilant, emphasizing that the fire’s containment level is currently zero and that conditions could change rapidly. Community members are asked to support first‑responders by keeping roads clear and respecting safety perimeters.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
